subjects of death for chosen careers

[Appletrees]

Inspired by the English bacc thread I would like to know subjects would be advised AGAINST for particular careers.

Given that schools are encouraging children to take subjects that will boost league tables A-C results rather than into the unis/training colleges/courses the students actually need.

So I am starting with journalism after a great post from Basildon Bond on the bacc thread.

For journalism, don't take media studies.

Any more?

i thought it was computer science that was the OK degree..no?

when my dad was recruited into IT, they wanted Classics degrees...but then computers still had valves

There are computer science degrees and computer science degrees. So you need to be careful. (Maths and Physics are always in demand by computer companies.)

It seems to me the university jury is still out on whether A level Philosophy, psychology, or sociology are OK for those subjects at degree level, so you could get away with one of those at A level if your other A levels are traditional academic ones.

Whereas everyone seems to be in agreement that Law, IT, Social Care at school level are not good for university entrance requirements.

Philosophy used to be ok.. perhaps not any more

An accountancy degree will not hinder your chances of getting a job with a big 4 firm, and may actually give you exemption from some of the professional exams. However, we wouldn't favour an accountancy degree above any other 'respectable' degree (eg maths, engineering, history).

We would not look favourably upon gcse or a level accountancy though. Better to do academic subjects for the reasons stated above.

Although, to be honest, after ten years with a big 4 firm I would now say to any teenager considering this career: 'Don't do it, you only have one life and there are far more interesting things to do with it! The money tends to be good, but then you end up sticking withh it for just that reason. Run while you still can!'. But anyway, that's another topic

To be a geologist, you don't need A level geology or geography, and are better off dedicating that time to Maths.

I qualified as an accountant 13 years ago.
Accounting A level and GCSE had not been created then.
Accounting degrees were a sign of a very narrow mind
The Big 8 - as it was when I started training - wanted pure BSc subjects or MFL
anything with "studies" in the name is a no no

Economics - leave till degree
Any head shrink type 'ology' - best left to degree level

the traditional subjects teach you how to learn
and having done that you can go and be anything you like

Anything computer'ish for GCSE or A'level (IT/Computer Studies) is a waste of time. If you want a serious IT career, you do need Maths and a solid science background. But I'd also say that a solid background including English, MFL/Latin and humanities are also essential. There are next to no computing jobs out there where you don't have to communicate with people - be it in writing, over the 'phone or in person.

Computer Science degrees from most RG uni's are useful, but some courses at some of the ex-poly's are shockingly bad. When I was helping with graduate recruitment, Computer Science and Electronic Engineering degrees (esp. with an industrial placement) were the top choices. Other engineering degrees were then considered, then Maths, Physics and Chemistry were further down the list.

Interestingly it's a field in which the class of degree and where you studied it are still important even after you have 20 years of experience...

My sister's boyfriend finished his degree in computer science last year and walked straight into a job with a top city bank. He's just has his first bonus and it was huge! So computer science is a good degree I would've thought?

A degree in computer science from a decent university is surely OK? Cambridge has offered one for decades.
Don't do business studies GCSE/A2 unless that is the highest level of education you are aiming for.

At one time for IT/Computing careers, Computer Science degrees were frowned upon. Churned out whizzkids that didn't understand a commercial environment.

Maths, sciences and business studies still preferred. Also good communication skills and common sense.

In all the years (20+) I have worked in IT, by far the best personnel have been those with NO degree. Not so many these days, as difficult if not impossible to get into without a degree.

Environmental sector wants trad science, engineers and maths graduates still, some Environmental Science degrees are ok (but depends on the course) but not Env Sci A-levels (or GCSEs).

Mrs Mipp

I find this concerning because ds1 is likely to go to a secondary school that has specialist status in maths and IT. This means that all students have to take maths and IT at GCSE. Given the value expressed here of IT at GCSE, surely this is a wasted GCSE? Especially if a student has leanings towards IT!

circular - in my own area, not having a degree was a rarity - and it was nigh on impossible to even get an interview without one. In fact, I don't even recall seeing a cv (and I saw hundreds!) of someone without one as the recruitment consultants didn't bother to pass them on to us.

I'm sure we lost vast amounts of talent because of it, but I guess you have to filter in some way.

PrettyCandles - yes, I'd agree it is a wasted GCSE if it's done at the expense of something more academic. If it's done in addition to a good Ebacc core then it won't do him any harm at all!

DD1 did 2 IT GCSEs (both were all coursework and a complete waste of time) - they were compulsory so didn't affect her choices, and have made no difference to her uni offers (Maths).

I think so long as IT is an extra and not an actual choice, and that there are plenty of "proper" subjects in there, you won't be penalised.

I want to echo what previous posters have said, there is no need to do GCSE and/or A-Level accounting to become an accountant. Nor does anyone need a degree in accounting.

As long as a student has a 2:1 minimum in an academically strong degree, they would be eligible for most graduate accountant schemes.

I read Classics at university, yet moved on to a graduate acountant scheme.

I would advise A-Level Maths though.

IIRC both IT and RE are obligatory at GCSE. That's 2 wasted opportunities.

I have no o jection to the school requiring academic core subjects, say maths, English, a MFL, a science and a humanity, but if the school effectively selects two of the student's 'optionals', that severely restricts thestudents choices.

If, say, ds wantsto do mostly pure sciences, but is also interested in geography or art (perfectly likely as he is very interested in architecture) then he might have to choose whether to sacrifice a priority subject or a secondary subject in order to accommodate two subjects which are of no academic or career value or relevance.

RE obligatory at my dc's schools, but IT is optional.

Our destined secondary has obligatory IT, and stats, and technology subjects at GCSE, but these seem to be taken on top of the traditional academic subjects for the higher achievers, not instead. I presume IT and stats are just very easy, if they pop them in as a sideline.
It's a few years til my dds are in GCSE world so it will probably be different by then.

Ooh Fennel I just namechecked you on the oldtimers thread!

Basically, what I seem to have gleaned in my time (I'm 40, BSc, MSc, PhD, 15 years at work and lots of recruitment experience) is that you are better off with a good general grounding in a broad area eg: "Science" (eg A level Maths, Physics, Chem and/or Bio), "Arts", "Humanities" rather than anything to specific or woolly at GCSE/A Level.

I did A level Maths, Phyics and Chemistry and have now moved into a very specific field of engineering via further study and work experience. My A levels have always stood me in good stead for incrementally more specialist moves.

Although I could be classified as an Environmental Engineer, Env Science A level would not have got me where I am.

Can I just say thanks to all who have contributed. I hope it keeps going. It is certainly helping me with my children.